Whether it’s stocking the fridge with fresh produce or wiping down the counters to keep critters away, a home’s healthy lifestyle depends on a clean, healthy kitchen. If you haven’t updated these essential kitchen tools, however, they could be counter-intuitive to clean-up, and might even be endangering your health. Take a look at this list and make sure your kitchen safety is up to snuff.
Smelly Sponges
Even if it doesn’t smell yet, the porous and damp nature of sponges makes them perfect homes for nasty bacteria you’ve worked so hard to avoid. If you’re using an old sponge to wipe down your kitchen counters, guess where all that bacteria goes? That’s right, everywhere. You can quickly disinfect a sponge by rinsing with hot water and sticking it in the microwave for 30 seconds, but you should still be replacing your sponges every two weeks, at least.
Dirty Dish Towels
Everything about sponges applies to dish towels as well, except towels have a greater surface area, all the better to soak up even more yummy bacteria. You also normally use a dish towel both to clean up and wipe your hands, which means lots of bacteria spreading. Wash dish towels as often as possible, and replace them sooner rather than later.
Cut-up Cutting Boards
You might think little nicks and cuts on an old cutting board are harmless, but they’re actually perfect venues for bacteria parties. Worst of all, it’s really difficult to clean a razor-thin cut made by a very sharp knife thoroughly. Regardless of their material make-up, cutting boards should be replaced if they’re damaged and scarred. Good cutting boards are fairly inexpensive, so a replacement is a small price to pay for safety.
Plastic Containers from the Past
You’ve probably heard of a little something called bisphenol A, or BPA, a compound found in manufactured plastics that has been linked to a long list of health problems that would make any physician shudder. If you’ve had your plastic containers for a long time, this compound could be seeping into your food and endangering your health. Luckily, companies are phasing BPA out of production, so it’s easier nowadays to find BPA-free plastic products, once you toss your old ones.
Nasty Nonstick
This is a relatively controversial issue, but research has shown that heating nonstick pans to temperatures higher than 500 degrees Fahrenheit possibly releases toxic fumes that can make you sick. They’re not deadly, and normal cooking won’t necessitate a temperature that high, but scratched nonstick surfaces are more likely to release fumes at a lower temperature. If you’re cooking with scratched and outdated nonstick pots and pans, it might be worthwhile to upgrade.
Grisly Grill Brushes
If you’re firing up the grill for a cookout, make sure to check your grill brush bristles. If your brush is old, these bristles can detach from the brush and attach to your food, posing a significant health risk. Swallowing sharp, dirty bristles is bad news for your body. Grill brushes should be replaced every two to three months, especially if you’re an enthusiastic griller.
It’s never a bad time to track down and toss out the kitchen tools that could be harming your health. Take the time for a quick update, and you’ll have a happier, healthier, kitchen in no time.
